Bill, like I said, I have only a gut-feeling that Price could have done more. It's nothing I can put my finger on, except the sense that Price was not motivated to take undue risks to fight for Little Rock, whereas an Arkansas commander might have felt a little more aggressive, inventive, innovative, or something, to defend the capital of his State. I may be completely wrong about all this, but the question has always nagged me.

I do know, from reading letters, diaries and reminiscences written by common soldiers, the effect that the loss of Little Rock had on them. Their perception was that "the brass" gave up the capital city without a fight. Coming as it did on the heels of a bad, bad summer (Gettysburg, Vicksburg, Helena and Port Hudson), morale plummeted and desertions soared. I guess they had a gut-feeling, too.